Replaceable cartridge filter housing

ABSTRACT

A replaceable cartridge is provided for a screw-on-type oil filter useful in automobile engines, or the like. A floating cartridge is provided which is spring loaded against the bottom of a housing and held in place by spider-type clamping arrangement which is easily removable for the changing of the filter therein. There is also provided an antidrainback valve which is constructed of a single piece and prevents oil from draining back into the oil system when oil is not being pumped through the filter. The filter housing is provided with a plurality of coolant fins which permits the oil to be cooled as it is being pumped through the filter system.

United States Patent Goy et al.

[ Feb. 8, 11972 [54] REPLACEABLE CARTRIDGE FILTER HOUSING [72]Inventors: Thomas J. Goy, Canoga Park; Richard P. Knieriernen, Van Nuys;James E. Reading,

Sepulveda, all of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Torite Enterprises, Inc., San Fernando,

Calif.

[22] Filed: May 13,1968

[2| App1.No.: 728,674

{52] 11.8. CI ..210/130, 210/136, 210/186, 210/443, 210/455 [51] Int.Cl. ..B0ld 27/08 [58] Field ofSeareh. ...210/l30, 136,186, 232,440,

210/443, 453, 451, 455, 479, DIG. 17

2,511,800 6/1950 Wilkinson ..210/440 X 3,258,122 6/1966 Buckman et a1...210/443 X Primary Examiner-Frank A. Spear, .lr. Attorney-VictorSepulveda ABSTRACT A replaceable cartridge is provided for ascrew-on-type oil filter useful in automobile engines, or the like. Afloating cartridge is provided which is spring loaded against the bottomof a housing and held in place by spider-type clamping arrangement whichis easily removable for the changing of the filter therein. There isalso provided an antidrainback valve which is constructed of a singlepiece and prevents oil from draining back into the oil system when oilis not being pumped through the filter. The filter housing is providedwith a plurality of coolant fins which permits the oil to be cooled asit is being pumped through the filter system.

13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEDFEB 81972 3,640,390

' sum 2 0F 3 f gdy wzk Ana/Waxy.

REPLACEABLE CARTRIDGE FILTER HOUSING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to oil filter cartridge housings and more particularlyto the type of oil filter cartridge housing which can be removed toreplace the cartridge therein and the like.

Heretofore there has been provided, in the prior art systems, oil filtercartridges contained in a single housing unit. In these prior artsystems when the cartridge therein becomes old and dirty, and a filterchange is required, the complete cartridge unit, including the housingthereof, is removed and disposed of and a new complete unit, includingthe housing and the filter cartridge, is replaced. Such systems arequite expensive in that not only do the filter elements therein becomedirty and need disposing of, but also the complete metallic housing isalso disposed of. Some systems, as for example internal combustionengines, which use this type of replaceable oil filter unit, requirethat not only the oil filters be changed at frequent intervals, but alsothat the engines must perform to a certain quality. This is especiallytrue in the new high-performance engines which are now being producedand operate under extreme oil pressure and temperatures.

There has been provided in the prior art oil filter housings which canbe easily taken apart and the cartridge therein replaced when it hasbecome dirty and no longer functions in the manner for which it wasintended.

Also in the prior art systems fluid filters include antidrainback valvestherein which prevent the dirty oil and sludge captured by the filterfrom being returned to the oil sump when the system to which it iscoupled is no longer operating and the fluid system is not underpressure. The prior art antidrainback valves heretofore used have beenelaborately constructed of numerous parts. In such systems when thefilter cartridge is removed from the housing, disassembly of thiselaborate valve becomes an involved and sometimes difficult job.

The present invention includes a new and improved antidrainback valve ofsingle-structure solid construction composed of a relatively flexiblematerial which is easily removed from the filter housing when cartridgechanges are made. Too, because the antidrainback valve is solidconstruction and of a single piece, it is inexpensive to manufactureand, therefore, replacement of the part would not only be a simplematter but, also, the replacement of the part would be relativelyinexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present inventionprovides a fluid filter unit which may replace the fluid filters of thetype which requires that the whole unit be replaced. The presentinvention comprises a self-contained filter assembly with a replaceablecartridge which includes a finned filter housing having a plurality ofinwardly extending fins about the upper open end of the housing. Aspring is positioned at the closed end of the housing in which thefilter cartridge is placed upon and the spring urges the filtercartridge towards the open end of the housing. A spider-type clampingmember comprising a center portion having a plurality of extending armsprotruding therefrom which engage the locking ridges in the housing whenpressure is brought to bear upon the spider clamp, the spring and thefilter cartridge. The spider clamp can then be twisted to engage thelocking ridges. A gasket retainer ring is positioned about the innerperiphery of the housing at the upper end thereof which contains a firstgasket seal between the housing and the gasket retainer ring and asecond gasket placed about the outer periphery of the ring to seal thehousing to the engine or other system to be protected by the filtersystem of this invention.

The filter unit of this invention has a threaded portion preferablywithin the spider clamp which may, for example, be threaded into aprotruding threaded male fitting in the system to be protected which mayprovide the outlet part of the fluid system. An antidrainback valve ispositioned between the spider clamp and the gasket retainer to assuredrainback of contaminated fluids will not occur into the system when thefluid through the filter system is no longer under pressure. By thisinvention a unique antidrainback valve is provided which is constructedof a single element and which is composed of a relatively flexiblematerial having a relatively thin annular skirt which bears upon thegasket retainer. When oil is contained in the filter cartridge and thesystem is not under pressure the weight of that oil bears upon theantidrainback valve to close off the inlet ports to keep the oil frompassing thereinto.

It therefore becomes one object of this invention to provide a novel andimproved oil filter cartridge housing which replaces the screw-on-typeoil filters which can be disassembled and the oil filter cartridgetherein can be replaced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved oilfilter cartridge which has improved cooling qualities added to thesystem.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved oilfilter cartridge housing with a novel and unique antidrainback valve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved oilfilter cartridge housing wherein the housing can be removed by a singlemeans and taken away from the system to which it is attached and thecartridge therein can be replaced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES These and other objects, features andadvantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art when takenin consideration with the following detailed description of oneembodiment of this invention wherein like reference numerals indicatelike and corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a section view of one preferred embodiment of this inventionshowing the overall housing system, including the integral mechanismstherein;

FIG. 2 is a partial view taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the spider-clamping arrangement used to hold thefilter cartridge into the housing of the preferred embodiment, as shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the spider-clamping arrangement taken along thelines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the antidrainback valve used with thisinvention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the antidrainback valve taken along the lines6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the gasket retainer used with the embodiment asshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the gasket retainer taken along the lines 8-8 ofFIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a section view of the antidrainback valve and the gasketretainer in their respectivepositions as placed within the filterhousing, as shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THIS INVENTION Turning now toFIG. 1, there is shown a section view of a filter housing 10 as it isthreadably mounted into the system to which it is to perform the oilfiltration thereof, which may be an automobile engine block 12, as shownin this particular embodiment. It must be understood that thisparticular oil filter cartridge and housing may also be useful in othertypes of systems, such as hydraulic fluid systems, or the like. Housing10 is equipped with a hexagonal member 14 for tightening filter housing10 into place in block 12. There is also provided in this embodiment asquare internal member 16 wherein a square ratchet-type wrench, or thelike, can be used to remove housing 10 from engine block 12.

Housing 12 may have a plurality of fins 18 running longitudinal to thevertical axis thereof which provide that housing I0 and the contentstherein are easily coolable by exposure to the air through fins 18thereof.

Housing may be formed by machining, cold-press forming, or diecastingmethods, or the like, and has therein a plurality of protruding lockingmembers formed on the inside thereof which will be used in reference toa spider clamping arrangement and explained in more detail asdescription progresses.

Inside of housing 10 is a protruding portion 22 which has a spring 24therearound which extends inside of filter housing 10 towards engine 12.An oil filter cartridge 26, which is well known in the art, is insertedwithin housing 10, types of which are explained in copending patentapplication, Ser. No. 673,405, filed Oct. 6, 1967 on behalf ofJames E.Reading and assigned to the assignee of this invention, as an example ofa cartridge used therein. A spring-loaded relief value 28, whichincludes a safety pop valve, which will be explained in connection withFIG. 1 in more detail, is provided at the opposite end of cartridge 26and integrally sets within cylinder core thereof. Relief valve 28includes a spring 32 which bears against a top portion 27 inside portion33.

Relief valve 28 comprises the cylindrical portion 29 defining an opening31 therein. Portion 29 is fitted into cylinder core 30 of filtercartridge 26. Spring 32 is positioned into portion 29 and a top portion33 is next fitted over spring 32 and has a cylindrical boss 35 whichspring 32 surrounds. Relief valve 28 has a raised area 38 protrudingtherefrom on which portion 33 is fitted thereagainst. A gasket 36 isplaced between portion 34 and portion 33 and separated therefrom by aplurality of raised portions 38. Gasket 36 may, for example, be bondedto portion 33. A plurality of holes 39 is provided in portion 34.

The purpose of relief valve 28 is to assure oil flow through the systemwhen cartridge 26 becomes overclogged with dirty oil and sludge. Whenpressure builds up in the system oil will flow through opening 39 andthe pressure therefrom will force raised area 38 on portion 33 away fromportion 34 and allow oil to flow out of filter housing 10 withoutpassing through cartridge 26. A spider clamp 40, as shown in FIGS. 3 and4, is next fitted into place and clamped within the protruding members20. Relief valve 28 has a boss 42 which is cylindrical in shape andprotrudes from valve 28 and forms a portion thereof. The shape of thespider clamping arrangement is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and includesa protruding cylinder member, or boss, 44 and has a threaded opening 45which fits into member 42 of relief valve 28 and has, by this example,three clamping arms 46, 48 and 50, which includes raised portions 52 andindented portions 54. On the end opposite protruding boss 44 is acylinder boss 56 which is internally threaded to be threadably mountedon an extruding male outlet port 60 which protrudes from housing 10, asshown in FIG. I.

When placing a filter cartridge 26 into housing 10, cartridge 26, spring24, and relief valve 28 are first placed into their respectivepositions. Next, the spider clamp 40 is positioned with boss 44 fittinginto member 42 of mechanism 28. Extending arms 46, 48 and are positionedto clear locking ridges 20. Pressure is brought to bear upon theinternal structure of the system to overcome the spring 24 and spiderclamp 40 is turned in a counterclockwise direction until detents 54engage locking ridges 20 of housing 10. There is then provided a stableand secured self-contained floating oil filter cartridge within housing10.

An antidrainback valve 64, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 9, is next placedaround the outer boss 56 of spider clamping arrangement 40. Theantidrainback valve is formed of a rubber material, or the like, of asingle-piece construction that has a center opening 66 therein andprovides an annular diaphragm of a rather flexible material.

The valve 64 is annular in shape and has an annular skirt 68 which isrelatively thin on the outer periphery and thickens up as the centerportion 69 is approached. A flat portion 71 is provided near the topthereof which bears against the inner portion of spider clamp 40. Thecenter opening of valve 64 is fitted over boss 56 of spider clamp 40 toprovide a seal therebetween.

When oil pressure is applied to an inlet port 67 in engine 12 thepressure is sufficient to force thin skirt 68 of antidrainback valve 64to an outward position, as shown in the dashed lines 65 in FIG. 9, toallow the oil to flow into the filtration system. When the oil pressureon inlet ports 66 is reduced, skirt 68 returns to its normal positionand the oil contained within the housing will then bear against skirt 68and cause a seal to prevent oil from draining back into the oil systemof the engine 12.

A gasket retainer 70 is provided, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, whichfits snugly within housing 10 and may be formed of a metallic material,for example, but not limited thereto, and can again bear upon the bottomportion of protruding members 20. A slot 72 may be cut around the outerperiphery of the gasket retainer 70 to hold an oil seal gasket 74 whichmay be a round ring formed of a rubber material, or the like. A furtherslot 78 is made within the gasket retainer 70 and may be cut around theinner circumferential edge of retainer 70. An oil seal gasket 74 isplaced within this particular slot 78. In this particular arrangementthe oil seal may be square in shape, as taken along the cross-sectionalview thereof, or it may be fonned of a device which is rubberizedmaterial and, as shown in FIG. 1. The latter shape being preferablebecause as pressure is brought to bear between retainer 70 and theengine housing 12, the gasket 80 tends to flatten out and form a betterseal. Skirt 68 bears upon a recessed portion 79 on gasket retainer 70.

To perform the operation of removing oil filter cartridge 26 fromhousing 10, a wrench, or the like, may be applied to end member 16 orhexagonal member 14 and housing 10 may be unscrewed from protruding port60 of engine block 12. To replace the housing 24 the internal thread ofspider 40 is threaded onto port 60. Upon removal of the housing, oneneed only press down on spider clamping arrangement 40 and twist in aclockwise position and release. At this time member 40 will bedisengaged from the protruding members 20 and removable therefrom.Cartridge 26 can then be removed from oil filter housing 10 and eithercleaned and replaced or disposed of and replaced with a new cartridge.Clamping member 40 can then be replaced into the housing 10 and twist inthe counterclockwise motion again engages end members 50 into theprotruding members 20 to again float cartridge 26 within housing 10.Gasket retainer 70 can be replaced and, if necessary, new seals 74 and80 as well as a new valve 64 can be placed into retainer 70 and housing10 is then threadably mounted back onto the engine 12.

Thus there has been described a filter cartridge housing whichaccomplishes the objects, as set forth in this invention, and it shouldbe understood that many modifications and alterations of this inventionmay be made and still remain within the spirit and scope of thisinvention, for there has been described but one preferred embodimentthereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A filter assembly comprising:

a housing, said housing being capable of holding a filter cartridge;

a spring-biasing means insertable in one end of said housing betweensaid housing and said filter cartridge;

retaining means being capable of being coupled to said housing forretaining said filter cartridge suspended within said housing;

a gasket retainer means insertable within said housing and includingmeans for sealing said gasket retainer to said housing and saidassembly; and

an antidrainback valve being positioned between said gasket retainingmeans and said first retaining means.

2. The filter assembly, defined in claim 1, including a plurality ofprotruding members within said housing and wherein said retaining meansincludes a plurality of extending members which are biased to engagesaid plurality of protruding members.

3. The filter assembly, as defined in claim I, wherein said retainingmeans is capable of being urged against said springbiasing means andincludes a plurality of extending members, each member of said pluralityof extending members being capable of being engaged with one of aplurality of protruding members in said housing when urged against saidspring-biasing means.

4. The assembly, as defined in claim 1, wherein said antidrainback valveis formed of a flexible material and comprises a diaphragm having arelatively thick inner portion defining an opening therein and arelatively thin annular skirt with relation to said thick portion aroundthe periphery thereof.

5. The assembly, as defined in claim 4, wherein said inner portionprotrudes normal to said diaphragm.

6. The assembly, as defined in claim 5, wherein said thin annular skirtis biased towards said thick inner portion.

7. The filter assembly, as defined in claim 1, and further comprising aplurality of heat-expending fins protruding from said housing andparallel therewith.

8. A self-contained filter assembly with a replaceable filter cartridgecomprising:

a housing, said housing having a first end and a second end, said secondend being open to receive a filter cartridge, said housing having aplurality of inwardly extending protruding members;

a cartridge-retainer member, said cartridge member being positionablewithin said housing and having a plurality of extension members, eachextension of said plurality being engageable with one of said pluralityof protruding members in said housing;

means for urging said filter cartridge towards said cartridgerctainingmember, said means being positioned within said housing;

a seal-retaining member, said seal-retaining member being positionedwithin said housing at the inner periphery of said second end; and

an antidrainback valve being positioned between said cartridge-retainermember and said seal-retainer member, said valve member being formed ofa single-structure elastic material.

9. A filter assembly, as defined in claim 8, wherein said antidrainbackvalve is formed of a flexible material and comprises a diaphragm havinga relatively thick inner portion defining an opening therein and arelatively thin annular skirt with relation to said thick portion aroundthe periphery thereof.

10. The assembly, as defined in claim 9, wherein said inner portionprotrudes normal to said diaphragm.

11. The assembly, as defined in claim 10, wherein said thin 5 annularskirt being biased towards said thick inner portion.

12. A self-contained filter assembly with a replaceable filter cartridgecomprising:

a cylindrically shaped housing, said housing having a closed end and anopen end, said housing being capable of receiving a filter cartridge,said housing having a plurality of locking ridges inwardly extendingabout the open end thereof;

a first spring means, said first spring means being positioned near theclosed end of said housing for urging the filter cartridge toward theopen end of said housing;

a first retainer means, said first retainer means having a plurality ofextending members, said first retainer means being positioned in saidhousing near the open end thereof, the extending members of said firstretainer means being engageable in the locking ridges of said housing;

a relief valve being disposed between the filter cartridge and saidfirst retaining means for holding said filter cartridge in position; and

a second retainer means, said second retainer means being ring-shapedand positioned within the inner periphery of said housing near the openend thereof, said second retainer means having a first slot formed inthe outer Eeriphery of said second retainer means towards said ousmg forretaining a gasket between said second retainer means and said housing,said second retaining means having a second slot therein about the innercircumference on the surface facing the open end of said housing forretaining a second gasket.

13. The assembly, as defined in claim 12, and further including anantidrainback valve being positioned between said first retainer meansand said second retainer means, said valve being formed of a resilientmaterial and comprising a diaphragm having a relatively thick innerportion which protrudes normal to said diaphragm and defining an openingtherein and having relatively thin annular skirt with relation to saidthick portion around the periphery of said diaphragm, said annular skirtbeing biased toward said thick inner portion.

1. A filter assembly comprising: a housing, said housing being capableof holding a filter cartridge; a spring-biasing means insertable in oneend of said housing between said housing and said filter cartridge;retaining means being capable of being coupled to said housing forretaining said filter cartridge suspended within said housing; agasket-retainer means insertable within said housing and including meansfor sealing said gasket retainer to said housing and said assembly; andan antidrainback valve being positioned between said gasketretainingmeans and said first retaining means.
 2. The filter assembly, defined inclaim 1, including a plurality of protruding members within said housingand wherein said retaining means includes a plurality of extendingmembers which are biased to engage said plurality of protruding members.3. The filter assembly, as defined in claim 1, wherein said retainingmeans is capable of being urged against said spring-biasing means andincludes a plurality of extending members, each member of said pluralityof extending members being capable of being engaged with one of aplurality of protruding members in said housing when urged against saidspring-biasing means.
 4. The assembly, as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid antidrainback valve is formed of a flexible material and comprisesa diaphragm having a relatively thick inner portion defining an openingtherein and a relatively thin annular skirt with relation to said thickportion around the periphery thereof.
 5. The assembly, as defined inclaim 4, wherein said inner portion protrudes normal to said diaphragm.6. The assembly, as defined in claim 5, wherein said thin annular skirtis biased towards said thick inner portion.
 7. The filter assembly, asdefined in claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of heat-expendingfins protruding from said housing and parallel therewith.
 8. Aself-contained filter assembly with a replaceable filter cartridgecomprising: a housing, said housing having a first end and a second end,said second end being open to receive a filter cartridge, said housinghaving a plurality of inwardly extending protruding members; acartridge-retainer member, said cartridge member being positionablewithin said housing and having a plurality of extension members, eachextension of said plurality being engageable with one of said pluralityof protruding members in said housing; means for urging said filtercartridge towards said cartridge-retaining member, said means beingpositioned within said housing; a seal-retaining member, saidseal-retaining member being positioned within said housing at the innerperiphery of said second end; and an antidrainback valve beingpositioned between said cartridge-retainer member and said seal-retainermember, said valve member being formed of a single-structure elasticmaterial.
 9. A filter assembly, as defined in claim 8, wherein saidantidrainback valve is formed of a flexible material and comprises adiaphragm having a relatively thick inner portion defining an openingtherein and a relatively thin annular skirt with relation to said thickportion around the periphery thereof.
 10. The assembly, as defined inclaim 9, wherein said inner portion protrudes normal to said diaphragm.11. The assembly, as defined in claim 10, wherein said thin annularskirt being biased towards said thick inner portion.
 12. Aself-contained filter assembly with a replaceable filter cartridgecomprising: a cylindrically shaped housing, said housing having a closedend and an open end, said housing being capable of receiving a filtercartridge, said housing having a plurality of locking ridges inwardlyextending about the open end thereof; a first spring means, said firstspring means being positioned near the closed end of said housing forurging the filter cartridge toward the open end of said housing; a firstretainer means, said first retainer means having a plurality ofextending members, said first retainer means being positioned in saidhousing near the open end thereof, the extending members of said firstretainer means being engageable in the locking ridges of said housing; arelief valve being disposed between the filter cartridge and said firstretaining means for holding said filter cartridge in position; and asecond retainer means, said second retainer means being ring-shaped andpositioned within the inner periphery of said housing near the open endthereof, said second retainer means having a first slot formed in theouter periphery of said second retainer means towards said housing forretaining a gasket between said second retainer means and said housing,said second retaining means having a second slot therein about the innercircumference on the surface facing the open end of said housing forretaining a second gasket.
 13. The assembly, as defined in claim 12, andfurther including an antidrainback valve being positioned between saidfirst retainer means and said second retainer means, said valve beingformed of a resilient material and comprising a diaphragm having arelatively thick inner portion which protrudes normal to said diaphragmand defining an opening therein and having relatively thin annular skirtwith relation to said thick portion around the periphery of saiddiaphragm, said annular skirt being biased toward said thick innerportion.